Clamp



Patented Jan. 1l, 1938 NTED STATES Parser cerise 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in clamps, particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in its use for securing electric light cables to the branches of a tree, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved clamp of this character for separately gripping bot-h the branch and the light cord or cable.

Heretofore considerable difficulty and inconvenience has been experienced in placing illuminating lamps upon trees, especially out of door trees, when the temperature is very low, as considerable time is generally required, and by reason of the operators hands becoming cold, it has been diicult to handle and anchor the lamps and light cords.

It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide an improved clamp of this character that may be readily and quickly applied to both the branch of the tree and the light cord or cable and as readily removed, and which when in position will be held against accidental displacement.

A further object is to provide an improved clarnp of this character that will be simple, durable and cheap to manufacture, and efficient and effective in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other'new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of noveity in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention, and in which Figure l is a perspective view of a clamp of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, showing the same applied in use.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2 2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on line 3 3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4 4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the clamp in a partially open position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the clamp in a full open position.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan View of the tongue member.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the

clamp consists essentially of a body portion IG, constructed of any suitable material having more or less inherent resiliency, and may be of any desired size and conguration.

One end of the body I9, is bent back upon itself to form a hook shaped extremity II, extending over and being spaced from the body. The free extremity of the hook shaped portion terminates considerably short of the opposite end of the body. An aperture I2, is provided in the hook shaped portion l I, preferably adjacent the free extremity of such portion, and if desired, reinforcing ribs i3, may be formed or provided in the hook shaped extremity and the adjacent portion of the body I il. The numeral i4 designates generally a tongue member, the extremity I5, of which is of a length slightly greater than the space between the body portion il] of the clamp and the opposed portion of the hook shaped end II.

The hook member is pivotally connected to the extremity of the portion i I, in any desired or suitable manner, preferably by forming a hook or loop I 5, which passes through the aperture I2, and is curved or bent about the extremity of the portion Il, thereby forming a hinge or pivot, with respect to the body portion of the clamp, and about which pivot the tongue is adapted to swing when the free extremity of the element Ill is moved toward or away from the body portion.

The portion 56, may be formed in any suitable manner, preferably by cutting out a portion of the material from which the hook is formed and then bending the cut out portion into proper shape.

At the lateral edges or extremities of the portion I5 of the tongue, deflected portions il are provided to reinforce or strengthen the tongue.

At any suitable point between the extremity of the portion I of the tongue and the inclined portion I5, there may be provided a recess i8, formed by bending or shaping the tongue. This recess is closed by the body portion lil, when the tongue is moved into an operative position.

By reason of the inherent resiliency in the body portion I0, and the length of the portion I5 of the tongue, it will be manifest that when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 5, and it is desired to move the parts into the position shown in Figures l and 2, the body portion IIJ will yield or spring under the stress of the portion I5 of the tongue, sulciently to permit the tongue to be moved into a closing position. The resiliency of the body Il), after the portion I5 of the tongue has passed from the position shown in Figures 3 and 5, to the position shown in Figure 2, will cause the body IIJ to assume a normal position,

parts of the clamp, will co-operate with the body I0, to serve as a guiding means for directing the clamp into position upon the branchr of the tree.

The clamp may then be partially closed, that is, the tongue is moved to the position shown in Figure 5, after which the light conductor wire or cord may be placed in position against the face of the inclined portion oi the tongue or against the `edge of the deflected portions, of flanges ii.' The tongue may then be moved into the positionY as shown in Figure 2, at'which time the body lil will form a closure for the recess i8, and, as 'the tongue when in the position shown in Figure 2 will be temporarily locked, it will be ymanifest that both the branch of the tree and the electric light cord or wire will be heldin position, one with Y relation to the other.

`It will therefore be manifest 'that with this Yimproved construction there is provided a clamp which will be simple and wili be very eieetive and efficient in operation. Furthermore the clamp is adapted for ready manipulation and can be applied or removed with great facility and with considerable ease on the part of the operator.

Y While the prefer-red form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to begunderstood that various changes may be made in the details oi construction and in the combination arrangement ci the several parts, within the scope oi the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:- -1. A clamp embodying a body bent upon itself to form opposed spaced walis, one of which walls Y terminates considerably short of the end of the other, a tongue pivoted to the shorter wall and forming a closure for the space therebetween and onione side of the pivot, an extension on said tongue for swinging it about its pivot, a portion of said extension being shapedV to form an open article holding recess, said recess being closed by the longer'of said walls when said tongue is in an operative position to close the said space between said walls, and ears at the ends of the tongues, said ears being deiiected at an angle to the tongue to reinforce the tongue.

2. A clamp embodying a body bent upon itself to formk spaced walls, one of which terminates considerably short of the end of the otherwall,

a member pivotally connected intermediate itsY ends with the shorter wall, the end of said member on one side of the pivot being shaped to form a tongue to provide a closure for the space between said walls, said member on the other side of the pivot being shaped to form an open recess, said recess being closed/by the longer wall when the tongue is in a closing position, whereby two separate article holding spaces will be provided one on each side of said pivot, and reinforcing means for the bent portion of said body.

3. A clamp embodying a body bent upon itself toiorm spaced walls, one of which terminates considerably short of the end of the other wall,

1a meinber'pivotally connected intermediate Vits ends with the shorter wall, the end of said meniber on one side of the pivot being shaped to form a tongue to provide a closure for the space be? tween said walls, said member on the other side of the pivot being shaped to form an open recess, said recess being closed by the longer wallwhen the tongue is in a closing position, whereby two separate article holding spaces will be provided one on each side of said pivot, and ears'iornied at the lateral edges of the tongue, said ears being deflected laterally with respect to the tongue to reinforce the latter.

4. A clamp embodying a U shaped body having opposed spaced walls, the extremity of one of said walls terminating considerably short of the Y extremity of the other Wall, a tongue pivoted toV the shorter wall and forming a closure for the Vspace between said walls, and an extensionV on said tonguey for swinging the tongue about its pivot, said extension beyond said pivot having an open recess, one wall of said recess when said closure is in operative position substantially abut ting vthe said longer wall, to form with the last said wall, a closed article receiving space.

5. A clamp embodying a U shaped body having opposed spacedwalls, the extremity of one of said walls terminating considerably short of the extremity of the other` wall, a tongue pivoted to the shorter wall and forming aclosure for the space between said walls, and an extension on said tongue for swinging the tongue about its pivot, said extension beyond said pivot having .open recess, one Wall of said recess when said closure is in operative position substantially abutting the said longer wall, to form with the last said wall, a closed article receiving space, said tongue being longer than the space between said walls, the tongue operating when nioved'about its pivot to spring the walls, said tongue being held in an operative closed position by the springing action of said walls. Y

6. A clamp embodying a` U shaped body having opposed spaced walls, the extremity of one of said walls terminating considerably short of the extremity of the other wall, a tongue pivoted to the shorter wall and formingra closure for the space between said walls, and an extension onsaid tongue for swinging the tongue about its pivot, said extension `beyond said pivot having an open recess, one wall of said recess when said closure is in operative position substantially abutting the said longer wall, to form withv the last said wall, a closed article receiving space, said tongue when in an open position being folded back upon the outer face of the shorter wall, saidtongue in the last said position co-operating with the longer of said walls to form a guide to 'position the clamp upon the support.

A'7. -A clamp embodying a U shaped body having opposed spaced walls, the extremity of one of said walls terminating considerably short of the l extremityA of the other wall, a Vtongue pivoted extension when said closure is in operating position to'close the'spacel between said walls, being substantially 'co-extensive'with that portion of the said longer wall which is beyond Vthe extrem- Aity of the said shorter wall.

CHARLES' w. CARD.

' said wall, a closed article receiving space, said Y 

